Pickleball has become the birthday party of choice for a certain kind of host: the one who would rather play than sit. This card has the look of a court on cream paper, with mint court lines around the edge, two paddles and bright yellow balls at the bottom, and a navy headline.
The name goes in the center in big navy serif letters, the date and the court beneath it. Type those three things and the match is set.
Book two courts for a couple of hours and rotate doubles so nobody waits long. Hand out a cheap paddle and a sweatband as the party favor, keep a cooler of cold drinks by the net, and bring the cake out between games. This one works for a fortieth, a sixtieth and a teenager who just got good. Wear sneakers; tell the guests the same.
